The Florida Division of Emergency Management announces new funding availability and open application periods for three flood mitigation grant programs administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grants are made available to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured property owners of structures with a history of flood damages or structures that are located in a Special Flood Hazard Area identified on FEMA flood maps. Applications are submitted in FEMA’s eGrants System by local governments or Indian tribes participating in the NFIP on behalf of the property owner. The DEM wants to provide important details about these flood grant opportunities to local government officials and primary contacts before letters are sent to the NFIP insured property owners in your area. For further information reading on the DEM’s flood programs, please go to:

http://www.floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/FMAP/index.htm http://www.floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/RFCP/index.htm

http://www.floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/SRLP/ index.htm

REOPENING of the FEMA Fiscal Year 2009 Funding Cycle for FMA and SRL ONLY

 New applications for the Severe Repetitive Loss and Flood Mitigation Assistance Programs only can be submitted to DEM in the eGrant system until July 31, 2009 for grant funding this year from FEMA Fiscal Year 2009 funding. Sub-applications MUST contain ALL of the following documentation so that DEM can complete the state review process in this short open application period:

1.             Cost-effective Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA)

2.             Elevation Certificate or Plat Survey with first or lowest floor elevation

3.             Photos

4.             Detailed Scope of Work

5.             Proof of Current Insurance

6.             Building Contractor’s project cost estimate.

For all other applications that require more time for data gathering and application development, please note that the deadlines below apply.

FEMA Fiscal Year 2010 Funding Cycle for FMA, RFC and SRL Programs

Local governments may submit FY 2010 sub-applications to the Division of Emergency Management by 5:00 p.m. on November 2, 2009. After a technical feasibility and cost effectiveness review, DEM will submit eligible sub-applications to FEMA by December 4, 2009.

Sub-applications for the three programs must be submitted to the DEM using FEMA’s eGrants System. Interested and eligible entities may register for eGrants at https://portal. fema.gov. In addition, a Benefit Cost Analysis for each sub-application must be conducted and attached to the application using FEMA’s BCA Toolkit. You are invited to review detailed FEMA guidance on each program at http:// www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3649

Grant Program Highlights

Sub-Applicant Eligibility: Local governments and Native American Indian Tribes that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, have a Local Mitigation Strategy and are eligible to submit sub-applications on behalf of property owners with current NFIP insurance who can meet the non-federal cost-share requirements.

Eligible Sub-application Project Types:

1.             Acquisition, demolition or relocation and conversion of land to open space;

2.             Elevation of existing structures 2+ feet above Base Flood Elevation;

3.             Minor physical localized flood control;

4.             Dry floodproofing of historic structures only; and

5.             Mitigation Reconstruction (for Severe Repetitive Loss properties only).

In addition to the eligible project types above, sub-application projects must meet these criteria:

•         Be cost effective as determined by a FEMA approved Benefit Cost Analysis method;

•         Be technically feasible;

•         Be consistent with goals and objectives in the Florida State Standard Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Local Mitigation Strategy Plan; and

•         Comply with NFIP floodplain management standards, environmental laws and the local Floodplain Ordinance.

You are encouraged to take advantage of Technical Assistance available from the State’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Program staff who can meet with your staff, conduct workshops with property owners and answer questions about eligible projects, sub-application development and other application requirements. Please consult the attached Territorial Assignment Map to identify the Mitigation Planner for your area or contact: Shemeeka Hopkins, Planning Manager, Non-Disaster Programs at (850)922-4079 or email: Shemeeka.hopkins@em.myflorida.com.